When a jazz-loving rooster sets his sights on winning a barnyard talent show, he realizes he can't do it as a solo act. He's up against the talents of Mules Davis's cool duo and Ella Finchgerald's singing group. Acoustic Rooster calls on friends like pianist Duck Ellington, singer Bee Holiday, and percussionist piggy Pepe Ernesto Cruz. Together, the foursome makes beautiful music as they rock the barnyard. And while they may not win first prize, Acoustic Rooster realizes he has the world's best jazz band and that's all that matters. Colorful artwork from artist Tim Bowers (Memoirs of a Goldfish) ensures this story doesn't miss a beat. A glossary of musical terms and instruments rounds out this perfect introduction to jazz for young readers. Kwame Alexander is a poet, publisher, and an award-winning producer of literary programs. He has written for television, the stage, and authored 13 books. He conducts writing/publishing workshops at schools and conferences throughout the country. Kwame lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Tim Bowers has illustrated more than 25 children's books, garnering such awards as the Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best" list. His work for Sleeping Bear includes First Dog and First Dog's White House Christmas. Tim lives in Granville, Ohio.

A retelling of the Grimm folktale in which four animal friends mistreated by their masters set out to become musicians and encounter a den of thieves. Suggested level: junior, primary.

Afraid of singing in front of a large crowd, Indigo dreams about Acoustic Rooster and his band and, after a storm flattens their barn, helps organize a concert fundraiser to rebuild it.

The Barnyard Band is performing today. All the musicians are coming to play! Each animal musician knows what to do, but Cow can only moo! This charming book is a delightful read-aloud featuring funny musical sounds and a refrain children will love repeating. Tim McCanna’s playful text will have children laughing, and Allison Black’s energetic illustrations will make children want to get up and move. Barnyard Boogie! is full of rhyming—and nonsense—sounds that will enrich and delight.

Get ready to do-si-do in the barnyard with Sandra Boynton’s bestselling, toe-tapping Barnyard Dance!—now available in an oversized lap edition! Join twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals in their barnyard dance! With rhythmic rhyming text, this book is guaranteed to get kids and adults spinning, swinging, and prancing with the high-spirited cast of characters! It’s BIG fun from Sandra Boynton in the big, big size of this favorite board book. Stomp your feet! Clap your hands! Everybody ready for a BARNYARD DANCE!

Little Pig has trouble keeping up with his four older—and bigger—brothers and sisters. When a visit to Grandpa's house turns into a rummage through Grandpa's old marching-band instruments, Little Pig is too small to play any of them. But when the disorganized band has a pig-pile mishap, Little Pig has a BIG idea: They could use a leader. David Hyde Costello's warm illustrations and goofy speech-bubble dialogue add giggles galore to this iconic story of little-siblinghood. Perfect for youngests, oldests, and everyone in between!

Developed by New Zealand reading specialist and author, Pam Holden, this exciting reading program offers an extensive range of illustrated fiction and photographic non-fiction titles at graded levels. Red Rocket Readers offer a carefully controlled sequence of challenges throughout the levels to ensure students progress with confidence and enthusiasm.

Musical terms come to life, and kids get to join in! A rhythmic poem is paired with exuberant illustrations of a conductor and his animal orchestra to convey the meanings of seven musical terms. The text contains a succinct physical definition for each term. For example, to define glissando the text reads, “Gently gliding, slipping, sliding.” And in the illustrations, the animals use movement to interpret this description, flowing across the spread as if rolling on a wave. Readers will find it easy to learn the terms — and will have great fun playing along! Staccato. Adagio. Allegro. Fortissimo. What child can resist pronouncing these words — or performing them!

Here is the story of "Hot Miss Lil" Hardin Armstrong, legendary jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader--and a female pioneer on the music stage. Ever since she was a young girl, Lil Hardin played music with a beat. She jammed at home, at church, and even at her first job in a music store. At a time when women's only place in jazz was at the microphone, Lil earned a spot playing piano in Chicago's hottest band. She went on to achieve fame as a bandleader and composer, and "swung" with many of the greatest early jazz musicians, including her husband, Louis Armstrong. Award-winning author Mara Rockliff and acclaimed illustrator Michele Wood brilliantly capture the rhythms and passions of this jazz pioneer and legend whose music and story deserve to be heard. This biography contains strong back matter which includes archival images, further information about Lil, a list of some of her songs and recordings, a timeline, an author's note, and a bibliography.

The Singin' and Swingin' at the K-2 Chorale Series includes easy-to-stage mini-musicals specifically designed for primary-age students. The songs, scripts, costumes, and staging suggestions for the series provide a number of performance options that accommodate a wide range of skills extending from kindergarten through second grade, and may even be extended to third grade as well. In A Barnyard Moosical, a hilarious and imaginative mini-musical, we meet a unique and talented group of animals living at this unusual farm. Between the gourmet goats that refuse to eat garbage, a chorus line of hoofing cows, neatnik pigs and funky dancing chickens, the musical will be sure to tickle the imagination and funny bone of performers and audiences alike. This kit contains the director's score, reproducible student parts, and an Enhanced StudioTrax CD that includes an event poster, program, artwork elements and a personal note to the director/teacher from the Gallinas. Duration: ca. 15 minutes. Grades K-2.